Palin: For breast feeding before mocking it

Ex-Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, as it turns out, was for breast feeding before a mocking reference to it Thursday night in a Long Island, New York, appearance.

Picking a familiar target, Michelle Obama, Palin poked fun of the First Lady’s campaign to promote breastfeeding among mothers with young children.

When questioning turned to rising food and gasoline prices, Palin quipped: “It’s no wonder Michelle Obama is telling everybody you better breastfeed your baby — yeah, you better — because the price of milk is so high right now.”

It was the second time around for the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee. Palin earlier dissed the First Lady’s public campaign aimed at reducing childhood obesity. The campaign has been praised by such potential Republican presidential rivals as ex-Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.

“Take her anti-obesity thing that she is on,” Palin said on the Laura Ingraham radio show. “She is on this kick, right. What she is telling us is she cannot trust parents to make decisions for their own children, for their own families in what we should eat.”

“Whereas breastfeeding is recognized as an unequaled means of providing food for infants.

“Whereas, throughout their lives, breastfeeding can offer children protection against serious health conditions, including obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure. Breastfeeding also saves lives by reducing the incidence of life-threatening cancers in women and preventing premature death in infants.

“Whereas breastfeeding forms the most basic bond between mother and baby and is a foundation for lifelong health and wellness.

“Whereas government and community organizations have a vested interest in protecting and promoting breastfeeding as a means of preventing infant malnutrition, morbidity and mortality.

“Whereas, during October, organizations throughout our state will promote the importance of breastfeeding. This year, in conjunction with World Breastfeeding Week — October 1 through 7 — the State of Alaska will support networks that encourage and promote breastfeeding in all communities.”

Palin did ask, on Long Island, that her line about Michelle Obama “not be the takeaway, please, of this speech.”